The years – 18 seasons now – have taught Calais Campbell much about life in the NFL.
One lesson? Shrug off expectations, because they don't have a bearing on the season.
"Whether you talk about expectations or not, it boils down to what you do," the veteran defensive lineman said. "Every team I have had a big run with, I don't think people expected a big run from in the year we did it. And teams I've been on with high expectations, we underachieved. It depends.
"I just think expectations matter none. It comes down to what you do."
Bruce Arians once famously said – and was caught on camera for the "All Or Nothing" season of 2015 – that for the Cardinals, their goal wasn't "a Super Bowl, but a Super Bowl ring." Broncos coach Sean Payton said recently he wants his players to be "comfortable" talking about reaching the ultimate goal.
Where the Cardinals end up this season has been a popular topic. It is the third year for coach Jonathan Gannon (and GM Monti Ossenfort for that matter); the previous three Cardinals coaches who lasted three seasons all had their best regular seasons in their third year.
Ken Whisenhunt, coming off a Super Bowl appearance, led the Cardinals to a 10-6 record in 2009 and an NFC West title. Bruce Arians also won the division with a 13-3 record in 2015. Kliff Kingsbury made the playoffs with an 11-6 mark in 2021.
The current roster is set up the best its been since that 2021 season. Gannon sees conversations of what could be as an "external factor," emphasizing how his team just has to improve daily. That's been his underlying message since he started the job.
Wins need to come, of course, but that doesn't change.
"The NFL mindset, there's always a sense of urgency," Gannon said.
Ossenfort said expectations have always been high and to win. "That was the truth the first day we got here."
But the first day Ossenfort got here the roster needed help (which he acknowledged on Friday, talking about the need to build a core group of players to be the backbone of the culture). The landscape has changed.
The message from Gannon has been heard certainly – tight end Trey McBride said if everyone focuses on their own improvement, the team will inevitably be enhanced – but it is hard to argue there is a different vibe with what this team might be.
"I think it'll be more of a coming out party, people figure out, not just the secondary but the Cardinals in general," cornerback Garrett Williams said. "I feel like it's going to be a big year for us to take that step, to get into the national spotlight and for people to really pay attention to us."
The formula is simple for that to happen.
"Just win," wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. said. "That's what it comes down to. This is the time, the time is now."
